IV grad assists Ohio State Marching Band

How did you become involved as student secretary of the OSU Marching Band? The band hosts a recruitment event each year for high school juniors and seniors and having attended both my junior and senior years, I knew about student staff. I decided to apply after I got home from this event my senior year and was lucky enough to receive an interview a few weeks later!

Education? 2010 graduate of Indian Valley High School, fourth year (senior) at The Ohio State University, majoring in public affairs (although I will be going an extra semester and will graduate winter 2014).

How did you become involved as student secretary of the OSU Marching Band? The band hosts a recruitment event each year for high school juniors and seniors and having attended both my junior and senior years, I knew about student staff. I decided to apply after I got home from this event my senior year and was lucky enough to receive an interview a few weeks later!

Unfortunately, the interview was scheduled to be on the night of my last high school band concert and not wanting to miss that, I was torn. Dr. Woods, the director at the time, decided that it would be OK to do a phone interview. I did the interview before the concert and came home to a message from him on the answering machine saying that I had got the job!

Needless to say, I was thrilled. Having played woodwind instruments in high school, I knew this was going to be my way to be involved with the all-brass band, without actually learning a brass instrument and trying out.

What other kind of jobs have you done, both for the band, and also during the summer? I've held the typical college-kid summer jobs, such as working at Arby's for a summer. Last summer was my first that I stayed in Columbus. I had an internship with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio, in addition to working some at the band center.

Within the band, there are no surprises with what task I might be handed next. My main tasks are facilitating the challenge process within the marching band, co-managing the Facebook, Twitter and website for the marching band; recording attendance and submitting grades for the members of our athletic band program; and going outside with the band once a week for water duty. However, a trip to a store to get a prop for a show or even helping to paint a banner have both been tasks I have helped with this season.

What has been your most memorable band event of this football season? I don't think I can pinpoint just one moment. One of the most inspiring was seeing the Ohio State School for the Blind perform Braille Script Ohio alongside the OSUMB. Another one I loved was the excitement from the band just after performing the now viral Hollywood Blockbusters show. I think we all knew that something really great had just taken place. Our trip to California was also very memorable, as all of our away trips have been.

Page 2 of 4 - What have been some highlights from your entire band career? One of my favorite days since I started working for the band was back in 2011, during the celebration for the 75th anniversary of Script Ohio. I was given the true honor of being able to be a guide for Clark Hammit, an alumnus who was in the very first Script Ohio back in 1936, and his daughter and son-in-law. To see him rise to his feet when the band played "Carmen Ohio," our alma mater, was enough to bring tears to my eyes.

Describe your feelings during the recent OSU vs. Michigan game: I was so nervous! I knew the Buckeyes could pull it off, but it was sure a nail-biter. The last time I was at The Game, we lost, and that was terrible, so I was really hoping to not have to fight through the crowd of M*ch*g@n fans again.

What's your daily routine? I typically wake up at around 7 a.m. to get ready for my day. Most days, I have class at 9:10 a.m., so this leaves me plenty of time to get ready then catch the bus to campus from my apartment. I go from class to class and typically get done around 2:05 p.m.

Student staff is required to be at the band center an hour before the rest of the band, so I rush home to grab my band stuff and drive to be at the stadium by 3:10 p.m. After band at about 6:45 p.m., I go home, eat some dinner, and start my homework and studying for the day.

By time that is done, it is about midnight. At that point, I am exhausted and pretty much fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow. And then it starts all over the next day!

What does your typical game day consist of? For a noon game, my game day starts at about 3 a.m. when I wake up, do band hair (an extremely tight bun) and get into uniform. Student staff is required to be at the band center seven hours before kickoff, so 4:30 a.m. on these days. We typically eat breakfast together then go to our individual offices to do what we need to do to get ready for the day. For me, this includes going up to the Ohio Stadium press box to set out media guides for the guests that day. After this is done, I have game day water/field set-up duty.

Once the band is down at the field, we all take part in uniform inspections to make sure we all look our best. After morning rehearsal is done, I help some other staff members tear down the field and get any props into the stadium.

Page 3 of 4 - Then, at about 9:15 a.m. on noon game days, it's lunchtime. As soon as we are done eating, we head over to Skull Session (a pep rally with the band two hours prior to every home game) to make sure everything is ready for the band to march over. Skull Session is one of the points in the day that student staff actually gets to relax a bit and enjoy the show.

As soon as it's over though, we gather everything at Skull Session and head to the stadium. We get everything set up there and then it's time for the band's traditional ramp entrance. For the last two years, my job during this has been ramp/hat guard, or making sure no one from the crowd on the field tries to walk through the band and picking up any hats that might fall off during pregame. Then, we get to cheer on the Buckeyes until it is time to get ready for halftime. I typically resume my hat guard duties, unless there are a lot of props for that particular show. Then I could be on a prop, or need to hold a director's ladder. After halftime, we get another chance to cheer on the team.

Once the game is over, the band takes the field for a post-game performance and student staff gets everything together to take back up to the band center.

Once everything is taken care of, we are dismissed to go home. As long as my family is not waiting for me to go spend time with them, I typically go back to my apartment, eat some dinner and fall asleep after the long day.

How do you relax? Relax? What's that? I try to take some time each week to relax, but with our busy schedule, it is so difficult. When I do get the chance to though, I love to hang out with my friends (most of which are also involved with the band), watch movies, read books that aren't textbooks, and teach myself to crochet (which has been a long process with my busy schedule). Needless to say, Christmas break is going to be VERY welcome!

What's the title of the last book you read? The last full book I read was "The Giver," however, I am almost done rereading the first book in "The Hunger Games" series. Quite often, reading is my go-to activity on the band bus, as it is extremely difficult to actually be productive studying.

What's your favorite TV show? I would have to say "How I Met Your Mother," although, "The Office" is a close second.

What would your dream job be? I would love to be a marketing manager/social media manager for a company. Being able to be a part of the band's social media sites has made this extremely interesting to me.

Page 4 of 4 - Family? My family is the best! They are so understanding and supportive of my band schedule, even when it prevents me from being home as much as I would like to be. It means the world to me when any of them are able to take time out of their own busy schedules to come to a Skull Session or game to visit. My parents, Joe and Wanda Krocker, actually make it down to about three or four Skull Sessions and about two games per season. My sister, Katie, is one of my best friends so it's always great when she can join them too! My extended family has been great too. They're always so excited to hear about my different experiences and stories from Ohio State. In fact, my Aunt Cindy is probably one of the main reasons I am filling this out right now!